Agenda item

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Governance which sought appointments to outside bodies with unfilled positions for Council representatives and approval for one change to an existing appointment.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)          approve the appointment of Councillor Lumsden as the Council’s representative on Opportunity North East Ltd (ONE); and

(b)          consider appointing members to the vacant positions on the following bodies:-

(i)        Aberdeen International Youth Festival (four vacancies);

(ii)       Mitchell’s Hospital Trust (one vacancy); and

(iii)      Robb’s Trust (one vacancy).

The Senior Democratic Services Manager advised the Council that the report stated that there were four vacancies on Aberdeen International Youth Festival when there were actually six vacancies; therefore recommendation (b)(i) required to be corrected.

Councillor Lumsden moved, seconded by Councillor Malik:-

            That the Council -

(1)      approve the appointment of Councillor Lumsden as the Council’s representative on Opportunity North East Ltd (ONE);

(2)      appoint Councillor Imrie as a member of Sport Aberdeen in place of Councillor Hunt;

(3)      appoint Councillor Wheeler as a member of Community Planning Aberdeen in place of Councillor Graham;

(4)      nominate six members of the opposition to the Aberdeen International Youth Festival to fill the vacant positions;

(5)      appoint a member of the opposition to fill the vacant position on Mitchell’s Hospital Trust; and

(6)      appoint a member of the opposition to fill the vacant position on Robb’s Trust.

Councillor Flynn moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Jackie Dunbar:-

            That the Council -

(1)      approve the appointment of Councillor Lumsden as the Council’s representative on Opportunity North East Ltd (ONE);

(2)      consider appointing members to the vacant positions on the following bodies:-

(i)            Mitchell’s Hospital Trust (one vacancy)

(ii)          Robb’s Trust (one vacancy);

(3)      instruct the Chief Executive to:-

(i)            write to Aberdeen International Youth Festival (AIYF) (a) stating that Aberdeen City Council is content for its membership of AIYF to be reduced to a single member; (b) informing AIYF that this decision is being intimated by Aberdeen City Council to OSCR; (c) requesting that AIYF write to OSCR in order that this change to the Trust Deed be facilitated as soon as possible so that AIYF can be quorate; and (d) requesting that AIYF take such steps as are necessary to facilitate this change to the Trust Deed; and

(ii)          write to OSCR providing details of the above letter to AIYF;

(4)      appoint Councillor Imrie as a member of Sport Aberdeen in place of Councillor Hunt; and

(5)      appoint Councillor Wheeler as a member of Community Planning Aberdeen in place of Councillor Graham;

During the course of debate, Councillors Flynn and Yuill advised that no opposition members were willing to fill the vacancies on the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, Mitchell’s Hospital Trust or Robb’s Trust.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (22)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Bell, Lesley Dunbar, Duncan, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Hunt, Imrie, John, Laing, Lumsden, Macdonald, Avril MacKenzie, Malik, Mason MSP, Reynolds, Sellar, Jennifer Stewart and Wheeler.

For the amendment  (22)  -  Councillors Allard, Alphonse, Cameron, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Delaney, Jackie Dunbar, Flynn, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, Catriona MacKenzie, McLellan, McRae, Nicoll, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart, Townson and Yuill.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Boulton.

There being an equality of votes, in terms of Standing Order 29.6, the Lord Provost exercised his casting vote in favour of the motion.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.